1 Corinthians 10:21 “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons also. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons.”
As a parent I can almost guarantee almost all of us have done this a time or two. Who doesn't enjoy taking their children to get cute photos of them sitting on Santa's lap or visiting the Easter Bunny. The memories created, cute smiles and wide-eyed excitement of your children. Well, I wish I could say I got to enjoy that as a parent but by the time my third child came and we tried, that experience was short lived. For some reason she disliked the mall Santa and Bunny and would get upset, so we just always avoided it. I was able to get a picture with Santa once or twice but never the Easter Bunny. As she got older, we had to make a point to make wide circles of the mall to avoid even seeing them. Another one she hated were clowns; luckily, we saw very few, so we got to easily avoid them. Eventually it just became a habit to not go near them and as she got older our mall visits became more sporadic and we usually missed the times they visited.
When she was older, I finally asked her what it was about the character she hated. They were just regular people in makeup or costumes, and they are meant to make people happy. Her response was quite intellectual, which has stayed with me ever since, and I have been wanting to write about it. She said it wasn't so much the character, Santa, Easter Bunny, or clowns that bothered her. It was that the mask they wore covered up who they really were and like the Easter Bunny, a full costume, you never knew who was under there or what the face was really portraying.
Her statement got me thinking and with Halloween around the corner and all the masks and costumes kids will be wearing, I felt this would be a good time to share this. I'm not here to debate the holiday or condemn those who choose to celebrate it with their families. For me and my hubby personally, we never celebrated with our kids when they were young and as the years have gone by, we've seen it become more ghostly, witchy, and goblin filled and still choose to ignore it. For us it portrays more of the world in an evil, destructive way than a Christlike one but that's our opinion. Please, as a family take the time to examine why you celebrate it and take it to prayer and let the Lord lead you in your decisions.
Now, about the masks. Masks are meant to cover up a face, right? I’m not referring to masks that are worn to help keep viruses under control, or that doctors and nurses wear in health care situations. I’m referring to the other masks that people wear. My daughter was very correct when saying a mask hides one's true identity. That's why robbers cover their faces, so no one can identify them. Now the Easter Bunny brings smiles to kids, as do clowns and Santa and there's nothing wrong with that and the kids shouldn't believe there is something wrong and if you can keep them from being frightened that's great!
There is someone else we never think about who parades around in a mask disguising himself as fun and we should want to hang around him. The Bible says the devil prowls around like a lion seeking to devour those who follow Jesus. Well, if he really was a lion, we'd know to stay away from him. So, even though figuratively the Bible says a lion, I believe it is a warning that the devil will use whatever mask he can that will draw our attention toward him and away from Jesus.
Matthew even says beware of a wolf wearing sheep's clothing. Again, a visual we can understand as to the devil wearing a costume to blend in with us and our friends so that we don't even know he's pulling us away from Jesus.
Aside from dressing up for fun, we as Christians also need to be aware of how we live. Have you ever said, ‘Oh, they wear two faces? In church or around their Christian friends they are one way, yet in their home, work or other places they are completely different.’
Are we then also wearing a mask to hide who we are? It's interesting what we can find in scripture even on this subject. James 1:8 says a double minded man is unstable. Elijah in 1 Kings tells the people they can't keep hesitating between two opinions, either God or Baal. Matthew tells us we can't serve two masters. 1 John 2:15- “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If you love the world, the love of the Father is not in you.” Proverbs 25:26 “A good person who gives in to evil is like a muddy spring or a dirty well.” Psalm 12:2 “Everyone lies to his neighbors; they say one thing and mean another.”
We are created in God's image; we are to be like Him or strive our best to be like Him. Even though sin has entered this world in the hearts of men, doesn't mean we now conform and follow. When we choose Jesus to live in us His light should shine from us in church, at home, at work and among all friends. No one should feel we wear two masks because then part of us is hiding who Jesus is in our lives and we're falling into satan's snare. We should also be aware of how we act, talk and live that either at home or among church friends everyone knows we are the same, hiding nothing. Jesus is the Light of Life and when we have invited Him to live with us, He will shine through us for others to see but the only way that can happen is if we don’t hide behind a mask. We need to let other’s see our face and let them see Jesus. When we do that, satan will have a harder time disguising himself and finding ways to enter our lives. When we put on that front, letting our Christian life reflect Jesus but our work life reflect the world, satan has a door to enter and he will use it to the fullest.
As the October holiday fills this world and the ghosts and goblins run through the streets really think what is being portrayed and how much satan has his demons running this holiday and what control he has taken. Take a few moments to really see the masks that hide real truths in scripture and remember we want to be more like Jesus and less of this world. Shed any masks you might hide behind or have hidden behind and let the light of Jesus shine for all to see and help others find the joy you have in Jesus not this world.
As we continue our study through 1 Corinthians, I hope you have found some time to join and see what new things the Lord is teaching you or refreshing your hearts and minds of the things you have already learned. It is always wonderful to spend time in the Word and hear what Jesus is teaching or to find comfort, hope, encouragement and so much more. Today we will continue with lesson five and read 1 Corinthians 3:18-4:21. May you find many blessings and a renewed strength with Jesus and in Jesus.
Lesson 5- 1 Corinthians 3:18-4:21- https://www.docdroid.net/nv7aEo0/1-corinthians-study-5-docx
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